(Newser)
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Sign of the times? Several hundred Pacific walruses began amassing on an island off Alaska’s northwest coast in the first week of August in what wildlife officials say is the earliest date yet for their annual "haulout." The culprit appears to be shrinking Arctic ice. Walruses tend to head ashore two weeks after warm temperatures cause sea ice to recede too far north for them in the Chukchi Sea. This year, it happened earlier than ever. Walruses typically use sea ice for protection and as a home base, particularly for juveniles, while adults dive to the ocean floor for food. But "when that ice retreats to the deeper water, they can't do that," Fish and Wildlife rep Andrea Medeiros tells Alaska Public Media.

For the past several years, a barrier island near Point Lay has served as an alternative home base. Last year, thousands of walruses had arrived there by Oct. 7. This year, however, the haulout was observed beginning on Aug. 3—a full two weeks ahead of the next earliest date observed back in 2011, reports Alaska Dispatch News. Medeiros tells the AP that last week some 2,000 walruses were observed on the island, where they're expected to stay until the fall. Hoping to head north to observe the animals? Officials would rather you not. Not only is it illegal to disturb them, the walruses are known to stampede to the water in response to plane and boat activity in the area, which spells bad news for juvenile walruses.

Interesting fact: Eclipses have been known to make animals do odd things or throw their timing off. Not saying that's the cause but not saying it isn't either. All the claims about polar ice caps melting have been proven to be nothing more than manipulative lies. The caps are constantly changing. Melting in one area expanding in another. But they don't want you to know that because then you would see through the money grab hoax.

fedup taxpayer

Aug 19, 2017 9:15 PM CDT

warming... cooling....warming ...cooling... the planet does that kinda stuff.... only recently are billions in play as elites see a great way to make money.. remember acid rain?? and ozone layer?? and in the 1970s we were to be wiped out by ice age by now.... its all about the money...

Falcon269

Aug 19, 2017 10:18 AM CDT

Here's a link to NOAA's chart for Northern Hemisphere sea ice anomaly. https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/snow-and-ice/extent/ That is the chart that is being referred to and it looks pretty scary indeed. Ummmmm, I began to wonder why they started the chart with 1979 data which was a particularly cold period for the Northern Hemisphere. (That was when NASA'a James Olsen was predicting the new ice age.) So I did a little research. Here's a link to NOAA's Northern Hemisphere sea ice anomoly that includes data prior to 1979: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/service/global/snowcover-nhland/201702.gif. Hmmmmmmm